Worcestershire made a strong start to their third away fixture in a row in the 2025 Rothesay County Championship by bowling out Essex for 179 on a lively pitch at Ambassador Cruise Line Ground, Chelmsford, before recovering from early losses in their reply to reach 98-4 by the close.
Jacob Duffy and Matthew Waite led the bowling effort with pace, control and precision, taking seven wickets between them to exploit a hybrid surface that offered seam movement, lift, and plenty of challenge throughout the day meaning were unable to pass 200 thanks to a superb collective effort from the Worcestershire attack.
After Brett D’Oliveira won an important toss and asked the hosts to bat, it was New Zealand international Duffy who struck the first blow, and from there, momentum rarely left Worcestershire’s grasp.
Paul Walter was the first to depart, bowled through the gate by a Duffy delivery that nipped sharply and left only leg stump standing in the ground. Duffy struck again in his next over, trapping the in-form Charlie Allison lbw as Essex slipped to 22-2. Allison had briefly looked threatening, timing three sumptuous drives straight past the bowler, but his dismissal began a steady procession.
Tom Taylor then nicked off Westley for 30 after a promising 60-run partnership with Jordan Cox.
Cox, promoted to the top four, survived a streaky edge in the slips early in his innings but looked to counterattack, lofting a confident six over long-off against Ben Allison. His aggressive approach ended soon after, though, when Duffy jagged one off the seam to find a leading edge through to Gareth Roderick, the first of four catches behind the stumps for the Worcestershire keeper.
With Essex 91-4 at lunch, the afternoon brought further drama. Michael Pepper, who had been visibly struggling with a knee injury before the interval, returned to resume his innings but immediately pulled up in pain and was forced to retire hurt after just one ball.
Matt Critchley then became the first of Matthew Waite’s victims, undone by a delivery that followed him as he looked to come down the track, only managing to feather it through to Roderick. Waite struck again soon after, trapping the young Noah Thain on the back pad with a full straight ball.
Essex slipped to 130-7, and although Shane Snater briefly counter-punched with 14 off a single Waite over, including a towering six back over the bowler’s head, his aggressive intent proved short-lived. Trying to clear the ropes once more, Snater top-edged Duffy to deep third where Rob Jones took a safe catch.
Pepper bravely reappeared once more, this time with Allison acting as a runner, but was swiftly pinned lbw by Taylor. The end came quickly: Harmer edged behind for 28, the only Essex batter to face more than 50 deliveries, before Porter had his off-stump uprooted by Taylor. Essex had lost their final three wickets for just two runs.
Worcestershire’s reply started unconvincingly as the hosts took full advantage of the helpful conditions.
Jake Libby was the first to fall, pushing at Snater and edging to Matt Critchley at third slip. Roderick soon followed to the same combination, and debutant overseas bowler Kasun Rajitha made an immediate impression by having Rob Jones caught behind by stand-in keeper Cox.
The collapse continued when Jamie Porter found the outside edge of Kashif Ali’s bat, with Thain diving forward at fourth slip to pouch an excellent low catch. At 22-4, Worcestershire were in real trouble.
But in the fading light, Adam Hose and Brett D’Oliveira launched a crucial counteroffensive. Hose, typically composed, played with authority on the back foot, while D’Oliveira was compact and positive in defence and quick to punish anything short.
Their unbroken 76-run stand not only rescued the innings but also brought parity to a day that had seen wickets fall in bunches. Hose reached 39 not out with seven boundaries, while D’Oliveira looked increasingly fluent in his 31 not out before bad light brought play to a premature close with nine overs remaining.
